BANGOR City FC manager Neville Powell is banking on the never-say-die spirit of his squad to deliver a Europa League upset against top-flight Finnish opponents FC Honka at Wrexham’s Racecourse tonight.

BANGOR City FC manager Neville Powell is banking on the never-say-die spirit of his squad to deliver a Europa League upset against top-flight Finnish opponents FC Honka at Wrexham’s Racecourse tonight.

And the reigning Welsh Cup holders, who last week returned from the first leg of their second qualifying round tie with a 1-1 draw, can draw plenty of inspiration from the fact Powell was a member of the last City team to win through in a European tie, way back in 1985.

“We are going to enjoy the night,” said the City boss.

“It was 25 years ago that Bangor got a 1-1 draw against Fredrikstad in Norway – a game in which I played.

“We then drew 0-0 in the home leg and we went on to play Atletico Madrid, so history could repeat itself this time. Somewhere along the line it is going to happen.”

Powell is under no illusions about the size of the task against Honka, a side midway through their domestic league campaign and currently second in the table, but saw enough in last week’s encounter to be quietly optimistic.

“The quality of the opposition we are playing is underlined by their sprinkling of full and under-21 internationals, so they will have their fair share of the game in terms of attacking,” he added.

“But when we pulled it back to 1-1 over there we had a spell of about 10 minutes when we might have pinched another one.

“Attacking-wise they are a very good side, but according to their league record, they do concede goals.

“They drew 2-2 away from home last Sunday, for example, so we believe we’ll have chances.

“Their goalkeeper is quite small and with the height in our team and our set-pieces and long throws, we’ll maybe pinch one from there.

“It’s not going to be a case of us sitting back and seeing what happens. We will be cautious, obviously, but we have lads here who like to play and to get forward.

“In addition, there will be 1,000 Bangor fans cheering us on and they won’t want to see us sitting back and trying to soak up the pressure.

“We got a bit of luck over there when they missed a penalty but we snuffed them out and they will still be smarting over the result. I think they were expecting to win quite easily in order to make this meeting something of a training game but my lads put in a great effort.

“The workrate and commitment and their football know-how got us through and to be honest there was not a lot between the two teams except that they are full-time. There’s no pressure on us, it’s all on them to come over here and beat us.”

The winners of tonight’s match will meet either Ireland’s Sporting Fingal or Madeira-based CS Maritimo of Portugal, but whatever the outcome Powell’s pride in his squad is obvious.

In winning the Welsh Cup for a third successive season in May, City saw their initial 2-0 lead pegged back by Port Talbot Town, but they rallied to score a third in the final minute of the match and Powell said: “I’ve been here three years and I can count numerous occasions when we have shown battling qualities. We were down to nine men one year in a Welsh Cup tie against Caersws and won 3-2.

“One thing we have brought into the club is spirit and fight, which is what the fans want and expect from Bangor City. The players are a really tight bunch and the dressing room spirit is great. We don’t have a big squad because I don’t believe in having 20 or 22 players –there would be too many of them sitting in the stands on match-day.

“If we can work with 16 or 17 players and keep them all fit and champing at the bit, the spirit in the dressing room is good. I did it at Connah’s Quay and we managed to finish in the top seven on a budget that a Welsh National League club would now have.

“If you get the right players in who work hard and add four or five who can really play, you have a team and then you ask them to go that bit further every time.

“It’s been a pleasure over the last six months because I feel we have progressed as a club and we are moving to the next level.”

Racecourse admission prices this evening are £10 at the Yale Stand turnstiles.